w/ Ric Hanson

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Iowans who are planning to fly off to visit far-flung friends or family for Thanksgiving need to get their travel dates lined up in the next week or so — if not sooner. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says many flights are filling up and prices are climbing.  “Capacity rates right now are already higher than what they were a year ago, meaning, fewer seats are available because many people have already booked their vacations,” White says. “It is important to take advantage, if you can, of at least 14-day advance reservations to obtain better price rates.”

When demand is high, like during four-day holiday weekends, the airlines know premium prices can be charged for fares. “Very few will have discounted rates unless you travel on the holiday itself,” White says. “If you travel on Thanksgiving Day, you should be able to find better rates as well as many seats available.”

White says the hardest flights to get will be on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Even if you book 14 or more days out, she says ticket prices are higher this November.  “They are up about 6-8% compared to a year ago, so it’s important to keep that in mind when booking your travel,” White says. “Of course, if you can book in advance, you’ll also be able to receive lower rates.”

Triple-A reports more than 3.14-million Americans flew somewhere during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday and the numbers are expected to be up this year.  

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District have scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, Nov. 14th, with regard to concepts the district is considering to address its need for more instructional space. The community meeting is intended to provide the public with information about five concepts to increase the size of its instructional facilities, and will begin at 7-p.m. Thurday, in the Commons Area at the Atlantic High School.

Participants will be encouraged to provide feedback and input to the School Board, with regard to the concepts to be presented.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A man from Missouri was arrested on an OWI charge at a truck stop in Fremont County, Thursday. According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies made contact with 40-year old Jeffrey Eugene Davis, of Oregon, MO., at the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop in Percival. Davis was arrested on a felony charge of  OWI/3rd offense. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Thursday evening of 57-year old William Wayne Elliott.  The Red Oak man was taken into custody on a charge of Harassment in the 3rd degree, just before 7-p.m.  He was arrested at 209 East Maple Street and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where he was processed and held on a $300 cash bond.

Two Union County residents were killed, two others were injured, during a collision between a car and an SUV Thursday, in Afton. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of the car, 19-year old Sierra Peddycoart and her passenger, 51-year old Lori Anderson, both of Afton, died at the scene of the accident at the intersection of Highway 169 South and Highway 34. The crash took place at around 5-p.m.

Officials say Peddycoart stopped the 2003 Chrysler Sebring she was driving at the intersection, but as she pulled away, failed to see an approaching, eastbound 2010 Chevy Tahoe. The driver of the SUV, 30-year old Beth Kulow, of Creston, saw the car and tried, but failed to avoid the collision. Kulow and her passenger, 2-year old Kinsley Knutstrom, of also of Creston, were injured and transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. All of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A national education assessment report shows Iowa students have had some gains in math and reading since 2011, but stagnation over the long term remains a challenge. The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress covers math and reading for fourth- and eighth grade students. There is a flat long-term trend in reading for both grades, but a small growth in math.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a 21-year-old man has been shot to death. Sergeant Jason Halifax says police received reports of gunshots about 6:30 p.m. yesterday in a neighborhood east of Drake University. Police were withholding the victim’s name until relatives could be notified.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Ian Davies, the former Australian Olympic basketball player who played at Graceland University in Iowa, has died. He was 57. Basketball Australia said in a statement today that Davies died yesterday at his home in Hobart, Tasmania. No other details were disclosed.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has denied allegations that he slammed his two young daughters’ heads against a floor. The Sioux City Journal says 22-year-old Christopher Schmidt has been charged with three counts of willful injury and three counts of child endangerment resulting in serious injury. He entered not guilty pleas on Wednesday. A trial date hasn’t been scheduled.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been arrested in the Nebraska Panhandle following a car chase that turned up nearly 60 pounds of marijuana. The Nebraska State Patrol said Thursday that 40-year-old Vorachit Luexayachack of Sergeant Bluff was recently arrested following a car chase with authorities on Interstate 80 that started near Sidney. A trooper says the car reached speeds of 110 mph before a spike strip flattened a front tire.

The marijuana was found in Luexayachack’s vehicle after it was stopped. They were in four suitcases in the car’s trunk. Luexayachack remains at the Cheyenne County Jail. He faces charges of flight to avoid arrest, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, willful reckless driving, driving under suspension and speeding. Court records do not list an attorney.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A national education assessment report shows Iowa students have had some gains in math and reading since 2011, but stagnation over the long term remains a challenge. The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress covers math and reading for fourth- and eighth grade students. There is a flat long-term trend in reading for both grades, but a small growth in math.

State Education Department Director Brad Buck said in a news release that there are some bright spots in the results, but they largely underscore a need to keep pushing education priorities. The NAEP, advertised as the nation’s report card, has been administered in Iowa since 1990. It is given to a sampling of students using the same sets of test booklets across the country.